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Two silencing

sub-domains of

v-erbA synergize with each

other,

but

not

with RXR

Bernd

Martin, Rainer

Renkawitz and Marc Muller*

Genetisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58-62,

D-35392

Giessen, Germany

Received September 19, 1994; Accepted October 12, 1994

ABSTRACT

Thethyroidhormonereceptor(TR)andthe retinoic acid

receptor(RAR)induce geneexpressioninthe presence of specific ligand and repress transcription in the absence of hormone. This repression is mediated

by

an active

silencing

mechanism rather then

by

interference with DNA binding activators.

V-erbA,

a variant form of TR which is unable to bind

hormone,

represents a constitutive repressor. Here we

show,

using fusion

proteins

with the GAL4 DNA

binding

domain, that the minimal

silencing

domain ofv-erbA extendsfrom amino acids389 to632 andthatinternal deletions within this domain retain at least some repression function. Co-transfection

experiments

of different deletion mutants indicate that the

silencing

domainis

composed

ofatleasttwosub-domainswhich

are non-functional when tested

individually.

When combined ina heterodimeric

complex,

they synergize

such thatsilencing

activity

is

regained.

In contrast to

the retinoic acidreceptorthe retinoidX receptor does

notcontainasilencingdomain. In addition it isunable

tocooperate with the

repression

function of TR or

v-erbA in a heterodimer. INTRODUCTION

Themembers of thethyroid hormonereceptor (TR) and of the

retinoicacidreceptor(RAR)familyact onvertebratedevelopment andhomeostasisbybindingtospecific DNAsequences(1-3), thereby regulating transcription of target genes (4,5).

TRandRARareligand inducibletranscription factors which

repress transcription in the absence of hormone and induce

expression in the presence ofspecific ligand (6). Dependingon the promoter context or type of response element ligand

dependentrepressionhas beendescribedaswell (7-10). Here

weareanalyzing the repressionin the absence of ligand which ismediatedby an active silencing mechanism even acting on a

minimalpromoter composed of only a TATA box(11). Variant forms of these factors which are unable to bindhormonerepresent

constitutive repressors (6,12). Recently the analysis of thyroid

hormoneresistance syndromepatients illustrated the importance ofthis repression function. A dominantnegative TR mutant is

causinga severeimpairmentofphysicaland mental development,

which isnot seen uponTR genedeletion (13).Similarly,amajor

role for silencing is demonstrated by the chicken oncogene

product v-erbA.It does notbind T3 duetomutations inits ligand binding domain (14), it functionsas aconstitutive silencerprotein (6,11,12,15) and it interferes with normal erythropoiesis (16-20). A natural mutant of v-erbA (Pro 399 to Arg) lacks the oncogenic and the silencing activity (21,22).

Deletionanalysisofv-erbAassigned thesilencing functionto

about 300 C-terminal amino acids (a.a.) of the protein (23). Corresponding domains ofTRandRARwere ableto mediate both, repression andligand dependent induction. Incontrast to

otherrepression mechanisms (7-9,24-27), nothing is known

about the structural requirement for silencing domains, a

prerequisite forthemechanisticunderstanding of this effect(24).

Thefinding that bothTRandRARaswellasother members of thegenefamilyformheterodimers with RXRs addseven more

complexity to the transcription regulation by these factors (28 -34). The natural ligand for RXR was shownto be 9-cis retinoic acid(9-cis-RA),astereoisomer ofall-trans-retinoicacid, theligand forRAR(35,36).Heterodimerization ofTRwithRXR

stronglyenhancesboth, specificDNAbindingmeasuredinvitro

(28,30,37,38) and transcriptional induction in transient transfection experiments(31,32,34,39) orin vitro (40). Itwas

notknownwhetherRXRexhibitsorcontributestotherepression function in the ligand free heterodimer with TR orRAR.

Here weshow that thev-erbAsilencing domain iscomposed of atleasttworegions, both of whichare nonfunctionalontheir

own.Repression activity is restored when both regionsare present

inoneprotein, butinterestingly also whenpresent on twodifferent proteins which are ableto form heterodimers.

Wefindthat aregion of the RXRdomain, correspondingto the minimal silencing domain of v-erbA, does not mediate

transcriptional repression, although itreadily displays hormonal

induction. In addition it does not contribute to TR or v-erbA

silencing when present in a heterodimer. RESULTS

V-erbA contains a large silencing domain

Based onpreviousresults (23) wewanted to define more precisely

regions of v-erbA required for transcriptional repression. Therefore we fused the C-terminal part of v-erbA to the

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heterologousDNAbinding domain (DBD) of the yeast activator GAL4. Aminoacids 1-147 of GAL4aresufficient formediating

several functions suchasnucleartranslocation,dimerization and binding to the specific upstream activator sequence (UAS), whereas the major trans-activation functions are deleted.

Transcriptional regulation mediated by GAL4-DBD orby the

chimericproteinswasmeasuredusingareporterplasmidcarrying

the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene. CATexpressionwasunderthe control ofaGAL4DNAbinding

site upstream of the thymidine kinase (tk) promoter. This approach allows to study the function of v-erbA domains independentlyofendogenous members ofthethyroid hormone receptorfamily whichbind to the T3 responseelements, butnot to anUAS. Expressionand DNAbinding ability wastestedby

Reporter plasmid GAL 4 tk CAT UAS_ _ UAS Expression Plasmid 1 _ 147 346 v-erbA 639 362 639 389 639 409 639

b

N C L 1 % 2 3 4 Repression 1 1 100 140 190 1 5 6 7 8 so-U"

4

It$

111 9 10 1 1 12 13 14 15 16

Figure 1. Amino-terminal deletion mapping of the v-erbA silencing domain. Expression vectors coding for the indicated fusion proteins were transfected into Ltk- cellstogether with the indicator plasmid UAS-tkCAT (top line). Fold repression was calculated from CAT activities obtained in triplicate transfections

relativetothe CAT activity seen after co-transfection of a non-coding expression

vectorandthe reporter plasmid (23 2 %CAT conversion). Experiments were repeatedatleast twice.

s L I 1 ,fi,:4

lf,

input GAL-erb 409-639 (C) inputluciferase (L) GST-GAL-erb 508-639 GAL-erb 409-639 + GST luciferase input GAL-erb 362-508 (N) GST-GAL-erb 508-639 GST GAL-erb 362-508 + luciferase GST-erb 362-508 Bacterial in vitro 35S-labelled input luciferase (L)

input GAL-erb 362-468/508-639 (A)

GST-GAL-erb 508-639 GAL-erb 362-468/ GST 508-639+luciferase input GAL-erb 508-639 (.) GST-GAL-erb 508-639 GST GAL-erb 508-639 + luciferase GST-erb 508-639 Bacterial in vitro N

35S-labelled

Expression plasmid 346 S 346 389 434 639 639 346 434 468 639 362 468 508 639 362 515 - . ,15 639 6: Repression 104 l 6 1 6 1

Figure2.Internal deletions of the v-erbAsilencingdomain. Expressionvectors

codingfor the indicated fusionproteinsweretransfected intoLtk- cellstogether with the indicatorplasmidUAS-tkCAT (seelegendtoFig. 1). Expressionof UAS-tkCATtogetherwithanon-coding expression vectorwas40 X 3% CAT conversion.

Figure3.(a) Formation ofheterodimersaftercotransfectionofdifferentexpression vectors.Fusionproteins GAL-erb 362-468/508-639orGAL-erb 362-508were

expressedinCOSI cells either alone(lanesAorB,respectively)ortogetherin

oneexperiment(aneA+B). Cellextractswereused inagelretardationexperiment

usinganUASprobeand theautoradiogramwasscanned in ordertodetermine

migration differences of theprotein-DNAcomplexes. The laneswereanalysed

usingtheBio-imagesoftware and thedensity profileisdisplayed.Each band is connectedtothecorrespondingpeakin theprofile.A:A,B:BandA:Bindicate thepositionsof theAhomodimer,theBhomodimer and theA+Bheterodimer,

respectively. Sindicates theslot, Uanunspecific band andF thefreeprobe. (b) GAL-erb fusionproteinsinteractin vitro: GST-Fusionproteins GST-GAL-erb508-639,GST-erb508-639 and GST-erb 362-508 andGSTalonewere

expressed inbacteria,boundtoGlutathione-Sepharosebeads andincubated with theindicatedinvitrotranslated, 35Slabelledproteins.Thebeadswerewashed,

specifically bound proteins wereanalysedonSDS-PAGE and visualisedby

Fluorography. Lanes4,7,8, 9, 10,13(input)showtheinvitrolabelledproteins

utilised,luciferasewasadded in theinteraction reactionasspecificitycontrol.

The arrows indicate thepositions of thecorrectly translated proteins: GAL-erb 362-508 (N), luciferase (L), GAL-erb 409-639 (C), GAL-erb362-468/508-639 (A)andGAL-erb 508-639( ).

a

a

: k.

i

A A AFj.

k.i.-O

IJ -- P, " C',--1.. T T ..., KD0 L)

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gel retardation experiments and found to be similar for all the mutants (23 and data not shown).

Transfection of an expression vector coding for the GAL4-DBDhad no effect on UAS driven CAT expression in Ltk- cells (Fig. 1). Incontrast, as we have previously shown, expression of a fusion protein containing GAL4-DBD and v-erbA amino acids 346-639 (GAL-verbA) led to 100-fold repression of the basaltranscription rate. N-terminal deletion in the v-erbA domain of 16 a.a. (GAL-erb 362-639) or of43 a.a. (GAL-erb 389-639) did not reduce the silencing function, in fact a slight but reproducible increase of the repression was detected. Deletion of additional 20 a.a. abolished silencing (GAL-erb409-639). Interestingly,inthis mutant prolines 397 and 399 weredeleted, oneofwhich (Pro 399) is exchanged in a natural mutantwhichis inactive (21). It was previously shown that the C-terminal deletion of 7 a.a. (346-632) retains repression

function, whereas further deletion(346-616) severely reduces silencing (23). These results definetheminimalsilencing domain of v-erbA spanning a.a. 389 to 632.

In order to further define structural features involved in transcriptional silencing,weconstructedinternaldeletionmutants

in thev-erbA silencing domain andcomparedtheir repression activity relativetothecompletedomain(Fig. 2). Deletion ofa.a.

435 to 467 (GAL-erb 362-434/468-639) or a.a. 516 to 614

(GAL-erb 346-515/615-639)abolishesrepression. Deletion of a.a. 390to 433 (GAL-erb346-389/434-639) orofa.a. 469 to507(GAL-erb

362-468/508-639)

reduced

silencing

activity toabout6% oftherepressionconferredbythe wildtypeprotein.

This residual activity suggests that some functional features

remain intact, which might be explained by the presence of

subdomains.

Silencing subdomains can

synergize

Forfurthercharacterization we

analyzed

silencing

subdomains forpossible functional complementation. Thereforewemadeuse

of thedimerization interface of theGAL4-DBD. Expressionof twodifferent GAL4 fusionproteinsinacell leadstoformation

ofheterodimers between thetwochimericproteins, asvisualized ingel retardationexperiments

(Fig. 3a).

Wholecellextractsfrom

COSI cellstransfected with GAL-erb 362 -508 (see

Fig. 4)

or

GAL-erb 362-468/508 -639 expression vectors formed a

Expressionplasmid A A A+B

corresponding DNA-protein complex withan UAS probe(lane

A or B). Co-expression of both chimeric proteins leads to the

formationof anintermediarycomplexconsistingof a heterodimer

(Fig. 3a, lane A+B).

To further prove the formation of heterodimers via the GAL4-DBD, an independent in vitro assay was performed. Fusion proteins with the Glutathione-S-transferase were

bacterially expressed, boundtoGlutathione-Sepharoseand used to precipitate specifically interacting in vitro translated, 35S-labelled proteins (input Fig. 3b, lanes 4, 8, 10, 13). In each experimentin vitrotranslated, 35S-labelled luciferase (L) (input Fig. 3b, lanes 7 and 9) was added as a specificity control. When

GST-GAL-erb 508-639 was coupledtothe beads, interaction could be detected with labelled GAL-erb 508 -639 (lane 14),

GAL-erb362-468/508-639 (lane 11), GAL-erb 409-639 (lane6) and GAL-erb 362-508 (lane 3). When only GST was

used no radioactive band was visible (lanes 2, 5, 12, 15). In addition,luciferase was not retained inany of these experiments, indicating thattheprotein-proteininteractions are specific. The interaction was mediated by the dimerisation function of the GAL4-DBD, asthefusionproteins GST-erb 508-639or GST-erb 362-508didnotinteract with GAL-erb508-639 (lane 16)

or GAL-erb 362 -508 (lane 1), respectively.

Inorderto measure the effect of heterodimers on UAS-driven transcription, we compared the reporter geneactivity after

co-expression oftwofusionproteinstothereference transcription obtained with a single protein. To avoid differences in the

transfection and expressionconditions, we added equalamounts ofGAL4-DBDexpression plasmidinthe reference transfection

as well. This allows a direct comparison of the effects due to

GAL4-DBD/GAL-fusionprotein heterodimers (in thereference

transfection) to those mediated by GAL-fusion A/GAL-fusion

B heterodimers (in the co-expression experiment).

Reference expression of GAL-erb 362-508 or GAL-erb 409-639 is deficient in silencing. Co-expression of both fusionproteinsleadsto a2.6-foldrepressionof CATtranscription (Fig. 4, line 1). Heterodimers between GAL-erb 362-508 and GAL-erb508-639 showedaclear6-foldsynergistic repression

as opposed to the reference transfections (line 2). Further

N-terminal deletion of thesilencing domain in Gal-erb 557 -639 andGal-erb 617-639 resulted in loss of the complementation

B Expressionplasmid B 0.7 2.6 1.o0 1 5.9 0.8

_8

3 2 1.8 2.2 39 1.0 0.9 6739 4 508 639 409 639 1.2 1.4 1.2 5 362 506 ~ mmmmmm*-2zzzzz2z 0.7 0.4 0.9 mm w 6

Figure4. Synergism between v-erbAsubdomainsin heterodimers. Expressionvectors coding for the indicated fusion proteins were co-transfected with the UAS-tkCAT reporterplasmid into Ltk- cells either together with a GAL4-DBD expression vector (columns A or B) for reference expression or together with a vector forasecond fusionprotein (column A+B) for synergistic silencing. Numbers indicate fold repression relative to transfection of aGAL4-DBD expression vector withthe UAS-tkCAT reporter (28 i5% CAT conversion).

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activity (lines 3 and 4). These data show that thesilencingdomain

ofv-erbA is composed ofat least tworegions which are

non-functional when testedindividually, but which cancomplement eachother evenwhenplaced on twodifferent proteins capable to formheterodimers.

Inorder to ensure that thecomplementation effect is notdue

to ahigher amount of GAL-verbA fusion proteinsincomparison to the reference transfection, we tested combinations of

heterodimeric partners containing identical putative silencing regions. Neither of these combinations led to significant repression (Fig. 4, lines 5+6). In addition, increasing theamount oftransfected GAL-erb 362-508 in the absence of a second expression vector did not result in silencing (data not shown). Furthermore, we were interested to know whether a deletion mutant mediating residual silencing activity could synergize with other subdomains. Therefore we tested GAL-erb 362-468/ 508-639. The repression function of this fusion protein is dramatically increased when co-expressed with different heterodimeric partners (Fig. 5). Both, the N-terminal v-erbA subregion erb 362-508) or the C-terminal region (GAL-erb409-639) fused to theGAL4-DBD synergize efficiently in silencing activity with GAL-erb 362-468/508-639 (Fig. 5). One of these combinations (Fig. 5, line 1) yields near to wild

typeactivity. Another internal deletion mutant with a severe defect insilencing, GAL-erb 362-434/468-639, was unable to com-plement GAL-erb 362-508 (Fig. 5, line 3).

Weconclude that the silencing domain of v-erbA is composed oftwosubdomains(I+11),both of which arenon functional when tested individually, but which can synergize to restore activity

evenwhen placed on two different heterodimeric partners. Sub-domain Iincludes a.a. 389 to 508. Position 389 is determined

Expressionplasmid A A A+B

fromFigure 1, and position 508 from plasmid A in Figure 4,

line 1. Subdomain II containsa.a. 508to 632. Position 508 is suggestedby plasmid B in Figure4, lines 1 and2 andposition 632fromprevious deletions tested in homodimeric GAL fusions (23).

The retinoic acid X receptor (RXR) does not mediate transcriptional silencing

Other members ofthe nuclearreceptorfamilyclosely relatedto

v-erbA, like TR and RAR, show silencing activity in the absence of their specific ligands (6,23). The carboxyterminal domains of TR and RAR are 90 and 30% homologous to v-erbA, respectively. Since thecorrespondingdomain of the retinoidX

receptor(RXR) is27% homologoustothesilencing domain of

RARand sinceRXRisaregular componentof the TR orRAR transcription complex,wewantedtoknow whether RXR confers a silencing function aswell. Since the negativeregulation was morepronounced usingGAL4-DBD fusionproteins, wejoined

theC-terminal part(a.a. 235-462)of RXR to thisheterologous

DNA binding domain. The transcriptional effect on an

UAS-driven tk-CATgeneof this chimericproteinin thepresenceor absence of ligand was tested and compared to the previously

describedregulation mediated byGAL-TR orGAL-verbA (23).

Inordertoavoid interference with endogeneous factors,weused

CVI cells devoid of most of the nuclearreceptors. Expression

of the GAL4-DBDshowsnoeffect,expressionof GAL-TRleads

to clearrepressioninthe absence ofhormone and clearinduction

in the presence ofhormone (Fig. 6) and GAL-verbA displays

aconstitutive silencing function,asexpected. Incomparisonto

L-cells the CVI cells show less silencing activity. GAL-RXR

mediates induction upon addition of retinoic acid, but no, or a

B Expressionplasmid B

ZozzA

r 6.5 85.5 2.5

32

0

409 639 29.1 o.9 _ __9M 2 362 434 468 639 362 508 ~M 1.3 2.4 1.7 3

Figure 5. Synergismof v-erbA subdomains with internaldeletionmutants. Expressionvectorscodingfor the indicated fusionproteinsweretransfected into Ltk-cellseithertogetherwithaGAL4-DBDexpressionvector(columnsAandB)for referenceexpressionon aUAS-tkCAT reporterplasmidortogetherwitha vector

for another fusionprotein(column A+B)forsynergisticsilencing. ExpressionofUAS-tkCATtogetherwithaGAL4-DBDexpressionvectorwas46 2%CAT conversion.

Repression Expressionplasmids:

1 147 GAL _ 120 GALTR GAL-verbA I GAL-RXR Induction 410 TI 362 639 235 462 RR

Figure6. GAL-RXR mediateshormonalinduction,butnotsilencinginthe absence ofligand.Expressionvectorscodingfor the indicated fusionproteinsweretransfected

into CVIcellstogether withtheindicatorplasmidUAS-tkCAT.FoldinductionofCAT-activityinthe presence of hormone and foldrepressionin the absenceof hormonearecalculated relativetoexpressionofGAL4-DBD.

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very low, negative effect inthi induction we used all-trans RA

converted to 9-cis-RA by stereo

These results suggestthat, althi

is functional in hormonedepend

to mediate asignificant repress

GAL-RXR does not contribul a heterodimer with GAL-TR RXR was shownto form hetero

members of the thyroid hormon we have shown above, it does ni on its own, we wanted to knov to help its heterodimeric partner to exclude effects due to differ

differential dimerization eff heterodimeric complexes, we proteins for this experiment. dimerization is directed by the all the homo- and heterodimers. I

or of GAL-TR along withGALA independent of the addition of GAL4-DBD with thefusion GA silencing mediated by GAL-ver of RA (Fig. 7). Similarly, co-e. to 100-fold relative to GAL-TR did not influence repression int

shown). These results were not since extended assays with lar strongly increased basal level acti RXR effect on repression. Inthe induction expected fromGAL-R, case. The weaker silencing activ relieved. 12-10' 0 ._-4 8' 6' 0 U 4- 2-0* Expression plasmid A Expression plasmid B Reporter plasmid

Figure7. GAL-RXRdoes notsynergize amountsofexpressionplasmids coding

transfectedinto CVI cellstogetherwithtU boxesindicatetheCAT-expressionobta shadedboxes show the CAT-conversior

e absence ofligand. For RXR

(41 which was shown to he

DISCUSSION

Lio

k-rio

n11CVI" cellsY1 I'(>6)

Theresultsin this study describethefunctional silencingdomain

ough the C-terminusof the RXR ofv-erbA and of the TR/RXR hetero-complex. We utilized the lentgeneinduction, it is unable advantage of fusion proteins consisting of C-terminal parts of

ion. v-erbA joined to the DBD of the heterologous GAL4 yeast

transcription

factor.

Expression

ofthedifferent chimeric

proteins

te to the silencing function in is roughly similar as assessed by gel retardation analysis.

orGAL-verbA Furthermore the GAL4-DBD ensures correct nuclear

dimericcomplexeswithseveral

translocation,

dimerization and DNA

binding

tothe

specific

UAS iereceptorfamily. Although, as sequence.

otcontaina

repression

function Functional

analysis

of N-terminal deletion mutants in the v whether RXR would be able v-erbA

negative

domain

revealed the mnal

requirement

of a.a.

in its

silencing

activity.

Inorder 389to632 for

silencing

function. Mutants GAL-erb 362-639

ential DNA binding

cency

between

affmnity or and GAL-erb 389-639 led to a weak, but

reproducible

increase

homo- or in

repression

as

compared

tothe

complete

silencing

domain.This

used again the GAL4 fusion may suggest the presence of a trans-activation domain around

Teeforgainthe,D AL4bidion

a position 362. Further deletionto a.a. 409 abolished the

ability

GAL4-DBD

xpreDBDondof

and is identical for

ei

GLer

bAr

of thefusionprotein to represstranscription. Interestingly this deletion eliminates

Pro399,

which had been shown

previously

EDBDpleadi tofaeatr rLepressio

to beinvolved in

repression,

as

its

mutation

to

Arg

abolished

RA (Fig. 7). Replacement of biological oncogenic and silencing function (21,22). In this context the internal deletion mutant GAL-erb 346-389/

*L-RXR

shows

noeffect on

the

434-639, which has Pro 399 deleted,isimportant. It isstrongly

xbA

or GAL-TR in the absence impairedinsilencing function, but, incontrast to deletionmutant

xpor

GAL-verbA) of GAL-RXR GAL-erb 409-639, it still retains some negative activity.

the

dueabsenetofCT lganss

absenceof ligands (data not Possibly a functionally important

interruption

of a-helical

limitations structure in the protein isbroughtabout by the two very close

ge amounts of protein extract Pro397 and 399 in the wildtype

protein.

Itcould be

partially

ivitywithoutshowinganyGAL- restored inmutantGAL-erb 346-389/434-639

by

the

replace-presenceofspecific ligandthe ment

with

a

linker

sequence,

which

we

predict by

Chou-Fasman

*R

reduces thesilencingin each and

Robson-Garnier analysis

tobe

completely

unstructured and

rity ofGAL-TR wascompletely thus

flexible.

Similar

secondary structure

predictions

may allow the following assumptions. Region 360 to 420 is predictedto adopt an a-helical structureinterrupted bythe twoprolines397 and 399 in the wild type v-erbA. The functional mutant

GAL-erb389-639retains thisstructurewithashortened N-terminal

helix. Similarly in the hRARa the prolines 170 and 172 are

* ~ T

predicted

to

separate

two

helices,

the N-terminalone ofabout

[

i

RA >

10

amino acids. Theseobservations

suggest

that

the

silencing

subdomainImight be defined bya structural featureconsisting

oftwo helices

separated

by

a kink.

The fact that two of the internal deletion mutants (GAL

: ~~~erb 346-389/434-639 and GAL-erb

362-468/508-639)

retain someoftherepressing functionsuggeststhatthesilencing domain is composed ofatleasttwofunctional domains. Afinal

' proof is given by the co-transfection experiments, generating

heterodimers containing the putative subdomains on different > molecules, presumably in a spatial arrangement different from _2

-_--:

_s s that in theoriginalv-erbA protein. Several results argue for the

formation of functional heterodimers from non functional

GAL-RXR GAL4-DBD GAL-RXR components. In vitro interaction assays showed that all tested

GAL4-fusion proteins specifically interact, most importantly GAL-verbA GAL-TR GAL-TR GST-GAL-erb 508-639 and labelled GAL-erb 409-639 which do not restore silencing function when cotransfected (see Fig.

UAS-tkCAT 4, lane 5). The dimerization interface is contributed by the

common GAL4-DBD, as its deletion abolished the interaction

(Fig. 3b, lanes 1 and 16). Gel retardation experiments using withv-erbA or TR insilencing. Equal extracts from COS-1 cells transfected with two different

for theindicated fusionproteinswere

heindicatorplasmidUAS-tkCAT. Dark expresson vectors revealed the presence of heterodimeric linedinthe absence ofhormone, light

complexes.

Simply increasing

the amount of transfected nafter addition ofRA. expression plasmid coding for a single non-functional mutant does

(6)

not lead to repression. Heterodimers formed between

GAL-erb 362/508 and GAL-erb 508-639, which contain perfectly complementary sequences of the silencing domain, showed a

strong synergistic silencing effect. Similarly the repression function of GAL-erb 362-468/508-639, aweakly functional

mutant canbe restoredtonearly wildtypeby co-expressionof

several deletion mutants.

The results obtained using the internal deletion mutants and

theheterodimericcomplexes pointtoregion434-468 asbeing absolutely required for function. It hastobe present inatleast oneof theheterodimericpartners. Deletion ofonlythese amino

acidsinGAL-erb 346-434/468-639 leadstoanon-functional

protein (Fig. 2, line 3), which cannot be complemented by a

fusion protein (GAL-erb 362-508, Fig. 5, line 3) shown to

synergize in other cases (Fig. 4, lines 1 and 2).

Recently, synergismin silencingbetweentwonon-functional

subdomainsof the hTR(3 C-terminalregionwasdescribedusing

GAL4fusionproteinsandareportergenecontainingfour UAS

binding sites (42). In our system, using a single UAS,

co-expression of the corresponding v-erbA fusion proteins

GAL-erb 362-439 and GAL-erb 409-639 led to a weak, but

reproducible synergism as well.

Synergism between transcriptional activating domains is a

general phenomenon. Steroid receptors containtwoormore

trans-activationdomainscooperating forfull activity (43 -45). Incase of the humanestrogen receptor twoactivationfunctions AF 1 and AF2were shownto synergizewhenpresent ondifferent DNA

binding entities (45). RecentlythetranscriptionfactorTEF1was shown to require at least two out of three subdomains for activation function, each of which is inactive when tested

individually in a GALA fusion protein (46). Synergismwithin aheterodimerwasdescribedfor the hormonedependent activation by RXR/RAR complexes (29,30,31,33,39). It was shownthat

heterodimers formed ofonepartner containing the N-terminal AF1 domain and the otherpartnercontaining the C-terminalAF2 domain displayed synergistic activation function (47). This synergism was also seen if one of the partners lacks a

corresponding binding site in the regulatedpromoter. Specific synergistic silencing was described forv-erbA or TR with the

protein Nepl binding close to a thyroid hormone responsive

element in the chickenlysozymesilencer -2.4 kb(11,48). Here we describe a synergism between two silencer subdomains.

The mechanism for this synergism is still unclear. Direct interactionofhTRa 1(49)and the C-terminus of hTR(3 (42)with TFIIBhas been demonstrated. This interaction is relieved in the

presence of T3 (42), suggesting that this interaction may be involved in thesilencingactivity. TheregionofhTR(3 interacting

with TFIIB corresponds roughly tothe synergising subdomain A.A. 508 -639 of v-erbA. Whether thecomplementarydomain 389-508 interacts withsomeother componentofthe

transcrip-tion pre-initiation complex remains to be shown.

V-erbA and ligand-free TR and RAR are able to mediate

silencing. RAR and TR have been shown to function in a

heterodimericcomplex with RXR. In addition RXR is closely

relatedtoTRand RAR. Thereforewewantedtoknow whether

RXRexhibitsasilencingfunctionof itsownand/or whetherRXR

synergizesinrepressionwithone orboth of thesilencingdomains of v-erbA inahetero-complex. TheC-terminalfragmentofRXR, corresponding tothe minimal v-erbAsilencing domain, is able tomediate the RAinducibilityinthechimericprotein GAL-RXR,

but does not show any silencing activity. Usually we observe

thenthe natural proteinsontheirspecific binding site (23). We therefore concludethat the hRXRa doesnotcontainatransferable silencingfunction. Inaddition, we could show that GAL-RXR

inheterodimers with GAL-TR orwith GAL-verbA, respectively,

does notinfluence theirrepression activityintheabsenceofany ligand. Only addition of RA leads to an increase of CAT transcription, due to theligand-induced GAL-RXR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plasmids

The reporterplasmid usedinthisstudycontainsaGAL4 binding site (17mer)(50) inserted in front of the tkCAT gene (23).

The expression vectors pABGAL, pAB-GAL, pGAL-erbA A346, pGAL-erb 362-639, pGAL-erb 409-639, pGAL-erb

508-639, pGAL-erb 557-639, erb 617 -639, pGAL-erb 362-508, pGAL-erb 360-439, pGAL-erb 362-468/ 508-639, pGAL-erb 362-434/468-639, and pGAL-TRwere

described elsewhere (23). Plasmid pGAL-erb 389-639 was

obtainedby cutting pGAL-verbA withSmiaI andBclI, filling in usingthe Klenowfragment of DNA-polymerase I and religating,

thereby deleting a fragment coding for a.a. 346 to 388. The

internal deletion mutant pGAL-erb346-389/434-639 was

constructedby cutting pGAL-verbA withEcoRV andBcII,filling

in using Klenow enzyme and religating, thereby deleting a fragment coding for a.a. 390 to 433. Plasmid pGAL-erb

346-515/615-639 wasobtainedbydigestingpGAL-verbAwith EspIandFspIfollowedbyreligation,thereby deleting a fragment

coding for a.a. 516to 614. pSG-hRXR containing the coding sequence for the human RXRa was kindly provided by H.Stunnenberg (33). The RXR coding region was first cut out

usingEcoRI, filled in usingKlenow enzyme andcloned into the

Eco47III site of pABGAL. Then a

Hincll-HindJI

fragment

coding for a.a. 235 to 462 was obtained and inserted into the

SmaI-HindI

cut pABGAL to obtain plasmid pGAL-RXR

235-462.

The expression plasmids GST-erb 362-508 and GST-erb

508-639 were constructed by insertion of the

SmaIlHindIl

fragment of pGAL-erb 362-508 or pGAL-erb 508 -639,

respectively, into the vector pGEX KG (51) digested with

SmaIlHindllI.

The expressionplasmid GST-GAL-erb 508-639 was obtained

by insertion of the

BglHIBamHI

fragment of pGAL-erb

508-639, wichwasfilledinusing Klenow,intothevector pGEX

2TK (Pharmacia), digested withEcoRI and filled in.

Vectors for in vitro translation were obtained by insertion of theKpnIlBamHIfragments of pGAL-erb 409-639,pGAL-erb

508 -639 and pGAL-erb 362-468/508-639 into the vector

BluescriptSK+, digested with KpnIlBamHI, and insertion of theKpnIlHindIH fragment of pGAL-erb 362-508 into Bluescript SK+, digested with KpnIlHindIH.

Cellculture and transfections

Ltk- cells, CVI and COSI cells were grown in DME-medium

(Gibco) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 100 U/ml penicillin and 100

pjg/ml

streptomycin.

DNAtransfer into CVI cellswasperformed usingthecalcium

phosphateprecipitation method. Ltk- cells weretransfectedas

described(52). 2x106cellswere suspendedinDNA -DEAE-dextran solution (1 pmol reporter and 0.5 pmol expression plasmids) and incubatedfor 30min. Afteraddingdirectly 7ml

medium,cellswereseededon a6cmdish and grown for 36-48 that GAIA fusion

proteins

show

higher silencing

effectson aUAS

(7)

hbefore harvesting. Transfections were done in triplicate and

performed inatleasttwoindependent experiments.Transfections

into COSI cellsweredone by asimilarDEAE -dextran

suspen-sion method using 6 pmole of DNA on 107 cells. After 1 h

incubation inthe DNAsolution, a DMSO shock was performed

for 3 min, the cells were taken up in 30 ml PBS and 10 ml

medium, spundown, seeded on a 15 cm dish and grown for 48

h before harvesting.

Forhormonalinductionexperiments,the serum was depleted

of thyroid hormone and retinoic acid by extensive charcoal

stripping. The cellswerekept foratleast 24hindepleted medium beforetransfection, after transfection l0-7M 3,5,3'-trijodthy-ronine or 10-6M retinoic acid was added. CAT-assays were

performed as described (53). DNA-protein binding assays

Whole cellextracts wereprepared from COSI cells transfected with various expressionvectorsaccordingto(54). Gel retardation experiments were performed using 20000 d.p.m. of kinase-labelled 17-mer DNA probe, 2-4

/g

of whole cell extract in

anincubationmixcontaining 1-4,ugofp(dI.dC), 200 mMKCI,

2 mM DTT, 14% glycerol, 5 mM MgCl2 20 mM Hepes pH

7.7. TheDNA-protein complexes formedwereanalysedon a

5% polyacrylamide gel in 0.5xTBE.

Protein-protein interactions in vitro

Protein-proteininteractions wereassayedmainlyasdescribed

(42).

GST-fusion-proteins wereexpressedin E.coliBL21 cells(55).

Cellswereharvestedbycentrifugationandresuspendedin NENT

buffer (100mMNaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 20mMTrispH8.0and 0.5% NP-40). Cellswerelysedbythree freeze-thawcyclesand

the cellular debris was removed by centrifugation.

Glutathione-Sepharose4Bbeadswerewashed withNENTand

10,ulof beads wereincubated with 100 ,ul oflysatecontaining

the GST-fusion protein for 30 min at room temperature. Subsequently,thesupernatantwasremovedand the beadswere

incubatedwith 10% milkpowderin NENTfor 15 minat room

temperature. The beads were washed twice with 1 ml NENT andoncewith 1 mltranscription washingbuffer(20mMHepes pH 7.9, 60 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT, 6 mM MgCl2, 8%

glycerine and 0.1 mM EDTA). In vitro translated and radiolabeledproteinwereobtainedusingaTNT-kit(Promega).

5

yd

ofcrude lysate were incubated with the beads in 100

Al

transcription washingbufferfor 1 hat roomtemperature.Finally

the beads were washed (5x1 mlofNENT) andproteins were

solubilizedinSDS-loadingbuffer andanalyzedonSDS -PAGE. Gelswereamplified with fluorigraphicreagent(Amersham)and bands were visualised by autoradiography.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks toH.Stunnenberg for kindly providing us pSG-RXR. Inaddition,wewouldliketothankK.Kriigerforexcellent

technical assistanceand artwork andL.Schafer-Pfeifferfor help in cell culture. We are also grateful to J.Michel for critically

readingthemanuscript.This work was supported by the Deutsche

Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB249), by the BoehringerIngelheim Fonds (given to B.M.) and by the Fonds der Chemischen

Industrie.

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Figure

Figure 1. Amino-terminal deletion mapping of the v-erbA silencing domain.
Figure 4. Synergism between v-erbA subdomains in heterodimers. Expression vectors coding for the indicated fusion proteins were co-transfected with the UAS- UAS-tkCAT reporter plasmid into Ltk- cells either together with a GAL4-DBD expression vector (colum
Figure 6. GAL-RXR mediates hormonal induction, but not silencing in the absence of ligand
Figure 7. GAL-RXR does not synergize

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